Gate for railway-crossings



N0 Model.)

G. W. PHILLIPPI. GATE FOR RAILWAY onossmes.

No. 526,941. Patented Oct. 2, 1894.

w/ TNESSES:

I U I E STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE w. PHILLIPPI, 0E READING, ASSIGNOB To R-IOHARD'M. POPHAM, 0E PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

, GATE FoR RA lLWAY-CROSSING S.

srEcrErcA'rIo forming part of Letters Patent o, 526,941, dated Qctober 2 1894.

' Application filed October 17,1893. Serial No.4sas7s. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PHILLIPPI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gates for Railway-Crossings, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a gate for a railway crossing, adapted to be reduced in length in order to clear electric wires and other obstacles overhead when the gate is raised, the construction and operation of parts being hereinafter set forth and claimed. 7

Figure 1 represents a partial side elevation and partial vertical section of a gate for a railway crossing embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top or plan view of a portion of the same. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of the spring of the gate and connected parts thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings: A designates a gate for a railroad crossing, andB designates the standard or box on which the same is mounted, which parts excepting the features of my invention applied thereto are of well known form.

C designates an extension of the gate, the same being pivoted to the outer end of said gate, so as to increase the length of the same.

Connected with the axis of the extension 0 is a toothed segment D, around which passes the chain E, whose end is secured to said segment, said chain also passing around a sprocket wheel F, and having its adjacent end connected with the spring G, which is guided in a casing H, secured to the box B, the tension of said spring being adjustable by means of a nut J, which is fitted on the end of said spring, said end being threaded and passing through the bottom wall of said casing against which'said nut tightens.

The sprocket wheel F is mounted on the box B at a center different from that of the gate A, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The axial end of the extension 0 has a tongue K thereon, the same extending upwardly and being adapted to rest on the pin L on the gate A, to limit the motion of the extension when the gate is in operative position.

. The operation is as follows: When the gate is lowered, the extension 0 increases the length of the same for evident purposes. In this case the chain E is taut, or comparatively taut, and subjected to the tension of the spring G, whereby the extension 0 is held out horizontally as a continuation of the gate A proper, and prevented from dropping. When the gate is raised, the spring contracts and takes up part of the slack of the chain E, but as the sprocket wheel F carries said chain on a center eccentric to that of the gate, the slack of the chain increases, so that the extension 0 is relieved of the draft or drawing action of the chain, and thus said extension drops and folds against the gate A, thus shortening the gate and permitting it to pass under electric wires and other obstacles. When the gate is lowered, owing to the distance between the segment D, and spring G, and the position of the sprocket wheel F, the chain is subjected to draft, the spring expanding to prevent injury to said chain, while however exerting tension upon the same. Consequently the segment D is subjected to said draft, and it is accordingly rotated thus straightening-out the extension 0, and causing it again to lengthen the gate as requisite for proper action at a crossing. Again, by havinga spring fastening for the end of the chain E, with the controlling or regulating nut thereon, instead of a fixed or rigid fastening, provision is made for an adjustment of the chain necessary for any expansion or contraction of the same due to temperature.

The segment D guides the portion of the chain E passing over it, and has the end of the chain secured to it as at D, but the segment may be dispensed with if so desired.

In lieu of the chain E, I may use a rope or 5 cord in which case, the sprocket wheel F may be replaced by a pulley, but such change is non-essential, as it is believed that a sprocket wheel and chain are more advantageous, as the chain will not slip in its operations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A gate for railway crossings having a pivoted main part provided with a pin near 5 its outer end, an extension 0 pivoted to said outer end and havinga toothed segment connected with its axis, and a rearwardly extending tongue K adapted to be supported on said pin, the box B in which said main part is pivoted, the sprocket wheel F mounted in said box B, the chain E having one end secured to said segment and passing around the sarne, and a spring secured to the other end of said chain for taking up the slack of the same, said parts being combined substantially as described.

2. A gate for a railway crossing having a swinging extension mounted thereon, proof said spring, said parts being combined substantially as described.

GEO. W. PI-IILLIPPI.

Witnesses:

J OHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, R. H. GRAESER. 

